Reading Terminal Anniversary

[glennk419]

I originally posted this on the Reading Forum but suppose it's appropriate here as well:

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 1&t=158028

[trackwelder]

great shots, thanks for sharing! i've been in that place many times over the last few years but it's nice to see what it should look like.

[glennk419]

great shots, thanks for sharing! i've been in that place many times over the last few years but it's nice to see what it should look like.

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed. Still hard to believe it's been this long.

[BuddCar711]

And 6 days from now it will be the 30th annivesary of the opening of Jefferson (nee Market East) Station. They did a ceremonial coupling of a PC SL-IV and RDG SL-IV. I'm wondering what were the car numbers, and did each car still wore their respective logos for the ceremony?

[jackintosh11]

And 6 days from now it will be the 30th annivesary of the opening of Jefferson (nee Market East) Station. They did a ceremonial coupling of a PC SL-IV and RDG SL-IV. I'm wondering what were the car numbers, and did each car still wore their respective logos for the ceremony?

Didn't the first trains to serve Market East start running as a shuttle from Suburban on april 28th?

[ExCon90]

I can't be sure of the date, but the first service was indeed a shuttle between Penn Center and Market East, while Reading Terminal was still in service. I can't remember when the complete R series of through trains started; it must have been a few days after the last train from Reading Terminal, after they connected the tunnel with the existing 9th St. Branch.

[MichaelBug]

I also recall that the first service between Suburban & Market East began in the spring (late Aprii?) of 1984. I rode that shuttle many times that spring & summer. The running time was 3 minutes, but I can't recall the headway (may have been every 30 minutes).

The usual equipment was one of the St. Louies with special ad cards reading "WELCOME ABOARD SEPTA SHUTTLE".

Later on, on Labor Day that year, SEPTA began running all Paoli Line trains (only that line) through to Market East, while the other PRR side lines continued to terminate at Suburban until the tunnel was opened in November.

[NorthPennLimited]

Great photos.

I can almost smell the hot brake shoes, traction motors, and cigarettes.

The barber shop next to 13 track had its own smell too. Cigarettes, and gun oil for the electric clippers.

[Clearfield]

And the Happy Cobbler.

[MACTRAXX]

Everyone,

MB is correct.

SEPTA did begin shuttle service between Suburban Station and Market East in the Spring
of 1984 and they issued a special schedule for The SHUTTLE which was blue print on glossy white paper with the description that three minutes is all it takes and it was free...

Later in 1984 Paoli trains began originating and terminating at Market East until full service began in November 1984 and within days or weeks service from the Reading side was curtailed when a defective bridge was found at Columbia Avenue near the old Temple U Station and trains terminated at Logan and other locations until the bridge was repaired and through
service resumed in the then newly unified SEPTA Regional High Speed system.

The renaming to Regional Rail System occurred the next year in 1985...

MACTRAXX

@

[glennk419]

Everyone,

and within days or weeks service from the Reading side was curtailed when a defective bridge was found at Columbia Avenue near the old Temple U Station and trains terminated at Logan and other locations until the bridge was repaired and through service resumed in the then newly unified SEPTA Regional High Speed system.

The renaming to Regional Rail System occurred the next year in 1985...

MACTRAXX

@

Ah yes, the infamous Columbia Avenue Bridge / OLD Temple U station debacle. I had actually put that experience out of my mind but now (not so fondly) remember having to stand in the cattle chutes in the parking lot at Logan waiting for our trains. That certainly did put a tarnish on SEPTA's new gem at the time.

[motor]

That debacle (that could've led to tragedy) prompted SEPTA to examine all its rail bridges, which ultimately led to RailWorks. Or so Gerry Williams tells us in Trains, Trolleys and Transit, his wonderful book on SEPTA's steel-wheeled transit services and their history.

motor

[Clearfield]

That debacle (that could've led to tragedy) prompted SEPTA to examine all its rail bridges, which ultimately led to RailWorks. Or so Gerry Williams tells us in Trains, Trolleys and Transit, his wonderful book on SEPTA's steel-wheeled transit services and their history.

motor

Both the Reading and the PRR had a huge deferred maintenance infrastructure backlog which SEPTA inherited with no cash to fix. Both roads were heading toward bankruptcy and weren't spending the money they did have on things like bridges.........

[Jersey_Mike]

Isn't it called Jefferson Terminal now?

[ChrisinAbington]

Probably don't want a hospital name and "terminal" in the same title...